Laundry Article Separation Device

Abstract

A laundry article separation device for segregating a smaller laundry item while drying includes a shell, which defines an interior space and which comprises a first piece and a second piece. A hinge is attached to and extends between the first piece and the second piece of the shell. The shell thus is selectively positionable in an open configuration, wherein a smaller laundry article is positionable in the shell, and a closed configuration. A plurality of holes is positioned in the shell and allows for passage of air into and out of the interior space. A closure is attached to the shell and is opposingly positioned on the shell relative to the hinge. The closure selectively and fixedly positions the shell in the closed configuration. The shell retains the smaller laundry article within the interior space and segregates the smaller laundry item from larger laundry items in a clothes dryer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A laundry article separation device comprising:
 a shell defining an interior space and comprising a first piece and a second piece;   a hinge attached to and extending between the first piece and the second piece of the shell, such that the shell is selectively positionable in an open configuration, wherein the shell is configured for positioning of a smaller laundry article, and a closed configuration;   a plurality of holes positioned in the shell, wherein the holes are configured for passage of air into and out of the interior space; and   a closure attached to the shell and being opposingly positioned on the shell relative to the hinge, such that the closure is positioned for selectively fixedly positioning the shell in the closed configuration, wherein the shell is configured for retaining the smaller laundry article within the interior space and for segregating the smaller laundry item from larger laundry items in a clothes dryer.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry article separation device of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry article separation device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first piece and the second piece is substantially hemispherical. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry article separation device of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is substantially nondeformable. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry article separation device of  claim 4 , wherein the shell comprises substantially rigid elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry article separation device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is attached to an exterior surface of the shell. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry article separation device of  claim 1 , wherein the holes are circular. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry article separation device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises:
 a hook rotationally attached to one of the first piece and the second piece; and   a rod attached to the other of the first piece and the second piece, such that the rod is positioned for selectively engaging the hook for selectively fixedly positioning the shell in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         9 . A laundry article separation system comprising:
 a clothes dryer;   smaller laundry article;   a shell defining an interior space and comprising a first piece and a second piece;   a hinge attached to and extending between the first piece and the second piece of the shell, such that the shell is selectively positionable in an open configuration for positioning of the smaller laundry article into the interior space, and a closed configuration;   a plurality of holes positioned in the shell, wherein the holes are configured for passage of air into and out of the interior space; and   a closure attached to the shell and being opposingly positioned on the shell relative to the hinge, such that the closure is positioned for selectively fixedly positioning the shell in the closed configuration for retaining the smaller laundry article within the interior space and for segregating the smaller laundry item from larger laundry items in the clothes dryer.   
     
     
         10 . A laundry article separation device comprising:
 a shell defining an interior space and comprising a first piece and a second piece, the shell being substantially spherical, each of the first piece and the second piece being substantially hemispherical, the shell being substantially nondeformable, the shell comprising substantially rigid elastomer;   a hinge attached to and extending between the first piece and the second piece of the shell, such that the shell is selectively positionable in an open configuration, wherein the shell is configured for positioning of a smaller laundry article, and a closed configuration, the hinge being attached to an exterior surface of the shell;   a plurality of holes positioned in the shell, wherein the holes are configured for passage of air into and out of the interior space, the holes being circular; and   a closure attached to the shell and being opposingly positioned on the shell relative to the hinge, such that the closure is positioned for selectively fixedly positioning the shell in the closed configuration, wherein the shell is configured for retaining the smaller laundry article within the interior space and for segregating the smaller laundry item from larger laundry items in a clothes dryer, the closure comprising:
 a hook rotationally attached to one of the first piece and the second piece, and 
 a rod attached to the other of the first piece and the second piece, such that the rod is positioned for selectively engaging the hook for selectively fixedly positioning the shell in the closed configuration.